NASA, Canadian Agency Renew Agreement to Reduce Aviation Icing Risks

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May 21, 2015, 03:30 ET

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA and the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada have renewed a partnership agreement to continue critical research in the area of aircraft engine icing.

On hand to sign the renewal agreement Thursday at the NRC offices in Ottawa, Ontario, were Jaiwon Shin, associate administrator of NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate in Washington, and Ian Potter, the NRC's vice-president of engineering.

"The combined efforts of our two agencies will help solve some of the most difficult and challenging weather-related issues facing the aviation community," Shin said.

The agreement continues for an additional five years research in a variety of critical areas related to aircraft icing, including engine ice crystal icing and testing practices for thermal ice protection systems. The initial agreement, signed in 2010, led to many cutting-edge projects and some important breakthroughs. For example, regulatory bodies are using data collected during a high-altitude flight campaign to establish standards and compliance measures regarding an aircraft engine's ability to tolerate the intake and impact of ice crystals.

This icing research agreement is but the tip of the iceberg of cooperation between these international partners, which goes back more than 50 years. Both agencies have similar goals to improve the efficiency, safety, and environmental compatibility of air transportation systems, and conduct research and develop tools that will lead to solutions to global challenges in aviation.

"Partnerships have been an essential part of NASA aeronautics activities since the establishment of its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, in 1915, and are based on a clear recognition of the value that's added in sharing knowledge and unique capabilities with others," Shin said.

In 2014, NASA and NRC teamed up on the Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions (ACCESS) II flight campaign, which studied the effects of burning alternative fuels in jet engines on emissions and contrail formation.

The ACCESS II collaboration occurred under the umbrella of the International Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR), of which NASA and NRC are two of 26 members. IFAR, currently chaired by NASA, facilitates global information exchange by networking research organizations worldwide.

For more information on NRC's aerospace programs, capabilities and facilities, visit:

http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/rd/aerospace/index.html

For more information about NASA's aeronautics research, visit:

http://aeronautics.nasa.gov

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SOURCE NASA